Grooms speeches are among the most difficult of speeches, because they are usually made by someone who is not accustomed to making speeches and who is under a great deal of stress on their wedding day.
Unfortunately, the poor groom receives little help from their peers, whether family or friends. Many well-meaning souls only make matters worse by telling them how easy it is to make grooms speeches–even though they have never made a formal speech in their lives.
It must also be realized that no one is going to make an accomplished speaker out of a groom overnight. It takes a lot of practice and a lot of speeches to be considered “accomplished.”
However, there are some things you as a groom can do to prepare for your infamous speech. Try out these tips and see if it doesn’t make preparing for your speech a little more comforting:
- Your speech needs a good opening, but keep it simple. Just tell the audience you want to present a toast. Don’t try telling a joke unless you are very good at it. You might read a poem or something that is especially meaningful to you and your bride.
- The main part of your toast (speech) should tell a little about you and your wife, preferably something most guests have never heard before–maybe how you met, or the like. This might also be a good time to thank special people who helped make this occasion possible and memorable.
- If you are really concerned about grooms speeches, go ahead and write out what you want to say–but never just read your speech. Practice, practice, until you get comfortable with your speech, and then pick out some key words and write them on small cards like index cards. You can glance at them occasionally to keep your main points in order, but don’t just stare at them, because they will eventually confuse both you and your audience.
- Also, never try to memorize your speech. Without fail, you will get lost during the delivery and really make a botch of the speech. Rely on your index cards for key points and practice some more.
- Nerves are often a factor when giving a speech, so if you are standing by a table or a podium of some kind, just lean into it or hold on with one hand and steady yourself. You will be surprised how much something solid like that can calm you down.
- Always stand up straight and distribute your weight equally on both feet. You can’t give an effective speech looking like a rag doll.
- Always make eye contact with your guests and members of your wedding party, especially when saying something about them.
- Unless you are a professional entertainer, grooms speeches over 5 minutes can begin to make your guests fidgety…so make your speech sincere–and short.
- Your last pointer is this: If alcohol is being served at your reception, stay away from it until after you deliver your speech. The very worst kind of speaker is one who tries to overcome their fears with alcohol. It is a fact that it only makes matters worse and you will come off looking like a fool.
That’s about all you need to know about giving your groom’s speech. You don’t need any public speaking training or tricks, just be yourself, follow the above tips, and enjoy this once in a lifetime opportunity.
About the Author
Hi, my name is Bob Foster and I have been involved in developing informational and review websites for quite some time. I am an Engineer by training and experience, but, when dealing with everyday practical issues I rely on my family and life experiences. I have been married to my high school sweetheart for several decades and helped to raise three children. Being an adventuresome family, we have experienced–and I have learned from–experiences that many people never get to have. So, my desire is to use both my natural curiosity and my many real life experiences to discuss products and practical issues in a variety of informational sites. For more tips on giving wedding speeches, go to my website at http://bit.ly/jn6AVT
Over the course of a long and happy marriage, I have had the opportunity to deliver a number of wedding speeches as; groom, best man, father of the bride, and father of the groom. Now I want to share some of those experiences with readers at http://grooms-speeches.org/
